A.M. Roundup: What’s after the budget?

Good morning! Lawmakers have scattered. Some are in tropical or semi-tropical locations. I am in Albany, which is neither tropical nor semi-tropical. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is here, too, but per usual has no announced public schedule. Near as I can tell, there ain’t much doin’ round these parts. Should be 52 degrees. Here are headlines from the morning and weekend…

Michael Gormley: There’s still reason for skepticism: New Yorkers should watch to see if a new Albany continues to emerge after this legislative election year and when Cuomo does his third and fourth budgets, when governors traditionally go on spending sprees while running for re-election.//For now, though, from what can be gleaned from the limited public view and few dispatches from inside, this might be the tip of government truly functioning. (AP)

Yancey Roy: But the reality is, rank-and-file legislators said Friday, that the legislature’s loss of power over the last decade has all but ended the days of long stalemates with the governor’s office.//Once, legislators’ best budget strategy was to make demands, stall and a wait out a governor. Now, because of a court decision and new budget tactics, if lawmakers get to April 1 without a spending plan, a governor can put forth his own budget — without the lawmakers’ input — and force them to either accept his plan or shut down the government, a “nuclear” option no lawmaker wants. These days, the little leverage they have is to negotiate early and get credit for meeting the deadline.//”The thing that’s new is that the governor has a Sword of Damocles hanging over the legislative leaders’ heads — and they know it,” said Assemb. Philip Boyle (R- Bay Shore ), in his 17th year in that house. “They realize if they don’t cut deals and pass the budget on time, then it’s possible they get nothing and the governor gets everything he wants.” (Newsday)

The New York Times: While Mr. Cuomo is congratulating himself for turning Albany from “a model of dysfunction” into “a model of function,” no one should forget what he gave away to win legislators’ compliance: Mr. Cuomo broke a campaign promise and approved gerrymandered election districts for the next 10 years. That is bad news for New York’s voters and real democratic competition.//That is not the only thing to worry about. This budget also concentrates a lot more power — too much — in the governor’s office.//(SNIP)//Governor Cuomo is a good governor. But even the best executive needs checks and balances. There are too few in this new system. (NYT)

“I understand I have to go through these things just like anybody does because I’m a public official,” said Senate Deputy Majority Leader Tom Libous, denying allegations made in a Yonkers corruption trial. “But I tell you very clearly: There’s nothing here, and it’s a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” (PSB)